Google music

In the wake of another streaming service shutting down it’s time to be blunt. Spotify continues to outpace its growing army of competitors, and if you’re going to spend money on a music streaming service, you should sign up for Spotify Premium. Or just use the free version, because it’s really rather good, too! Read More >>

Fancy yourself a streaming music service powered by Google? Spotify just not doing it for you? Well then, we have good news this morning, as big G has just flipped the switch on its All Access music service, firing it into the UK and across Europe. You'll get a free first month of streaming too. Read More >>

Although this year's Google I/O is all about developers and tools, Google unveiled a lot for the users too. No sign of Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie, just a 4.3 Jelly Bean update, but everything from search, chat, gaming, Maps, Music, and Google+ got a feature-filled refresh. We even got a bloat-free Samsung Galaxy S4 "Google Edition" to call our own. Here's everything Google fired out into the ether last night. Read More >>

Reports from both Fortune and The Guardian indicate that Google is planning to start a subscription music service like Spotify soon. But the craziest little nugget buried in the reports is that YouTube might be getting an ad-free option. Imagine no more Vevo ads. Hello, holy grail. Read More >>

According to the Financial Times, Google is currently in talks with "big music labels to launch a streaming service to compete with companies such as Spotify." Google previously launched its own digital music store over a year ago but this service will be different than the digital tunes shop, Google's streaming music service will offer free unlimited access to songs (with adveritsements), along with subscription options. [Financial Times] Read More >>

One of Google Music's aim-squarely-at-Apple features is 'Scan and Match', which does what it says on the tin. Just like Apple's £22-a-year iTunes Match, it scans your music library and matches it with Google's own library, giving you instant streaming access for free. Well, now it's meant to be working, and what's more, it apparently scans any music you've already uploaded to Google too. Read More >>

Spotted in the wild: code in Microsoft's SkyDrive that seems to show a native music player in the Redmond giant's cloud storage solution -- looks like Microsoft's finally planning something to challenge Google Music. (But ok, it probably won't be out in time to play Jingle Bells on repeat.) Read More >>

Well, here's a turn up for the books. Finally, something useful for the UK out of Google Music. Starting November 13th, Google Music will officially launch in the UK, complete with a 'Scan and Match' feature that matches tracks in your library with Google's database letting you stream them to your Android phone or tablet, just like Apple's iTunes Match. Read More >>

According to the mobile gear-heads over at Recombu, their Android phones have updated with the latest Google Music app on this side of the pond. So far you can't buy music, but does this mean that Google Music is due to roll out soon in the UK? Read More >>